The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-02

assembled from thirty lone States and Terri
tories ON this anniversary Of the birth OF The
Father of his Country" TO view the situation OF
public affairs and advise proper action =,
the wealth-producers farmers are suffering
from poN erty which has forced most OF them
to mortgage their estates and prices OF products
are so low as TO offer no relief except through
bankruptcy Laborers are sinking into create r
and greater dependence; strikes are resorted 10
without bringing relief. because OF the inability
of the employers in many cases To pay living
wages, while more and more are driven into the
streets. Business find collections almost
impossible meantime hundreds OF millions Oh
idle public money, which is needed for relief,
is locked up in the United States Treasury IN
grim mockery OF the distress land monopoly
fiourishes as never before, and more ana more
owners Of the soil daily becoming tenants
Great transportation corporations still spccee
in extorting their profits upon watered stock
through UNI ust charges. The United states
Senate has become an open scandal, us seats
being purchased by the rich in open defiance
OF the popular will. trifling fisheries dispute
is seized upon as an excuse for squandering
public monev upon unnecessary military prep
arations, which are designed To breed spirit OF
war; to ape European despotism, and TO empty
the Treasury without paying tho public debt.
Under these and other alarming conditions
we appeal to the people of this whole country To
come out of old party organizations, whose IN
difference to the public welfare is responsible
for this distress, and help us TO organize new
political party, not sectional but national whose
mombers shall be called Commoners, whose OBJ
ject shall be to repeal all class laws in favor OF
the rich and TO relieve the distress of our indus
tries by establishing the following principles;
l. Land-Every human being Possesses nat
ural inalenhble right to have sufficient land FOR
self-support and we desire TO secure 10 every
industrious citizen home, MS the highest result
OF free institutions. To this end we demand
graduated land tax on all large estates, especial
ly those held for speculative or tenant pur-
poses the reclamation of all unearned land
grants; the immediate opening of Oklahoma
to homestead settlement; the purchase OF all
Id GnTf aADf
of the various tribes upon lands in severalty (;
also laws preventing corporations from acquir-
ing real estate beyond the requirements OF their
business and alien ownership OF land. The sys-
TENS of irrigation in the States and Territories
where necessary shall be under such public
control as shall secure the free and equitable
use of the waters and franchise To the people.
2 Transportation-The means of communica-
ton and tran sportation should be owned or
controlled by the people as is the United States
postal system, and equitable rates everywhere
established.
8. Money-The establishment of National
monetary system in the interest of the producer
instead Of the Spectator and usurer, by which
a circulating medium in necessary quantity and
full legal tender shall be issued directly to the
people, without the intervention of banks or loan
cd to citizens upon ample security ut u low rate
of interest, to relieve them from the extortions
of usury and enable them to control the money
supply Postal-savings banks should be estab-
lished While we have free coinage OF gold we
should have free coinage OF silver. We demand
the prompt payment of the national debt, and
condemn the further issue of Understanding
bonds either by the national Government or by
States, Territories, counties or municipalities.
4. Labor Arbitration should take the place
of strikes and other injurious methods OF set
thing labor disputes; the letting OF convict
labor to contractors be prohibited the contract
system be abolished in public works the hours
of labor in industrial establishments be re-
duced commensurate with the increase OF
production in labor-saving machinery; en-
ployes be protected from bodily injury; equal
pay being given for equal work for both sexes
and labor, agricultural and cooperative associ-
atoms be fostered and Incorporated by law.
The foundation of a republic is the intelligence
of its citizens, and children who are
driven into workshops, mines, and facto-
ries are deprived of education, which should be
secured to all by proper legislation We desire
to see labor organizations extend throughout all
civilized countries until ii shall be impossible
for despots 10 array the workngmen of one
country in war against their brothers OF another
country
g. Soldiers and sailors-In appreciation of the
services of United States soldiers and sailors,
we demand for them justice before charity.
The purIosely depreciated money paid them
during the war should BIO made equal in value
to the gold paid the bondholders. The soldier
was promised coin or its equivalent and was
paid in deprecated paper. The bondholder
loaned the Government deprecated paper and
contracted TO take il back, but was paid in gold
6. Income taxa graduated income tax is the
most equitable system OF taxation. placing the
burden of Government on those who can best
afford to pay, instead of laying it on the farmers
holders and corporations.
z. United States Senate-The capture OF the
United States Senate by millionnires and tools
of corporations who have no sympathy with
free institutions threatens the very existence OF
| the Republic. We demand n constitutional
amendment making United States Senators
elective by direct vote of the people.
| &. Chinese-State and National laws should
| be passed that shall effectually exclude from
America the Monaghan slave and Asiatic com
| petition.
o. Armed men-The employment Of bodies Of
armed men by private corporations should be
| prohibited.
! TO- Equality-The right to vote is inherent il
! citizenship. irrespective of sex.
H. Observation-Disclosures wealth, resulting
| in luxury and idleness on the one hand and ex
cessive toll and poverty on the other, lead to in
| temperance and vice. The measures of reform
here demanded will prove to be the scientific
solution OF the temperance question.
THIRD DAY.
The election of a National Executive
| Committee was the principle, and about
the only work accomplished by the Conven
ton on the third and last day of its session
The Commute is constituted as follows:
Alabama. j. Woodall.
California;. f. Davis.
Dakota. O. Dean.
Illinois,. b. Clark.
Indiana-Thomas Gruelle.
Iowa-W. H. Babb.
| indian lerrltory-M. n. LoVln.
Kansas-W. ID. Vincent.
Kentucky. A. Wood.
| Maryland-Charles A. Mettie.
| Massachusetts-M. Johnston.
Missouri. Nolan.
Nebraska-E. Hull.
New Hampshire George Carpenter.
New Jersey-W. ID. Dubois.
New York;. /. Hoyt.
North Carolina-J. r. Winston.
Ohie-Charles Jenkins.
Oregon-E. w. Pike.
| Pennsylvania-John p. Zane.
Rhode Island-Holmes w. Merton.
Tennessee. X. Mills.
Texas--Capt. Sam Evans.
West Virginia.. X. Thompson.
Washington Territory-George n. Smith
When the committee was being selected,
| Col. Winston, of North Carolina, said his
| dala0otion and tbat Of Miaciocippi opd